DO Alella sits just north of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast and is one of the smallest Spanish wine designations. The region's signature variety is Pansa Blanca, the local name for Xarel-lo, grown on sauló granitic-sandy soils. The region produces structured still whites and small-volume sparkling. Easily combined with a Barcelona coast morning.
Tip: The Alella Vinicola cooperative in Alella town (founded 1906) runs producer tastings of Marfil-label Xarel-lo and sparkling.
DO Tarragona spans the coastal hills south of Penedes around the Roman port city of Tarragona. The designation produces still whites, traditional vi ranci style fortified wines and small-volume reds.
Pours: Tarragona still whites (Macabeo, Xarel-lo), vi de licor sweet fortified wines
Tip: The Roman Tarraco walking tour pairs neatly with an afternoon at a DO Tarragona cellar; allow 4 hours for the city walk.
Sitges, on the Mediterranean coast just south of Penedes, is the historic home of Malvasia de Sitges, the sweet white wine of the Hospital Sant Joan Baptista vineyard tradition.
Pours: Malvasia de Sitges sweet white, Subirat Parent late-harvest
Tip: The annual Verema festival in Sitges in early September includes a public harvest of the Hospital's Malvasia vineyard and a tasting of the previous year's bottling.
Barcelona is the gateway city for Penedes wine tourism: the Rodalies R4 commuter rail line connects Barcelona Sants to Sant Sadurni d'Anoia in around 50 minutes for under EUR 5 one way.
Pours: Catalan still wines and Cava at city wine bars, Penedes cellars sold at Barcelona retail
Tip: The Rodalies R4 line runs hourly from Barcelona Sants to Sant Sadurni; check the schedule on rodalies.gencat.cat. Avoid driving into Barcelona after a day of tasting.
DOQ Priorat sits about 110 km south of Vilafranca del Penedes and is reachable as a long day trip or, more comfortably, an overnight from Penedes.
Pours: DOQ Priorat Garnacha-Carinena blends, Priorat white Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo
Tip: Priorat estates require advance booking; do not arrive without an appointment. The Cooperativa Falset Marca in Falset is open without prior booking and pours both DOQ Priorat and DO Montsant.
DO Conca de Barbera sits inland from Penedes around the medieval town of Montblanc, focused on Trepat (the indigenous red used in Cava rose) and Macabeo.
Pours: Trepat rose (the signature variety), Macabeo whites and traditional-method Trepat sparkling
Tip: Stop at the Poblet monastery (UNESCO site) for an hour; the Cistercian monastic complex has a wine connection through centuries of vineyard ownership.
DO Montsant fully surrounds DOQ Priorat, sharing many of the same producers and grape varieties at generally lower price points. Falset is the main visitor base for both Priorat and Montsant; the Fira del Vi de Falset in early May covers both designations. The Falset-Marca cooperative is the easiest first stop for Montsant.
Pours: Montsant Garnacha-Carinena blends, Montsant white Garnacha Blanca
Tip: Many Montsant bottlings sit at half the price of equivalent Priorat with a closely related style; the Falset-Marca cooperative is the easiest entry point.